Developed by Behaviour Interactive, this spine-chilling horror game has been haunting the gaming world since its release in 2016. In Dead by Daylight, players are thrust into a nightmarish struggle for survival. With its heart-pounding gameplay, tense atmosphere, and ever-expanding roster of iconic horror characters, Dead by Daylight has carved out its own gory niche in the gaming landscape.

In this review, we’ll delve deep into the twisted world of Dead by Daylight, exploring its gameplay mechanics, terrifying aesthetics, and the thrill of the hunt that keeps players coming back for more. So grab your flashlight, keep your wits about you, and let’s dive into the blood-soaked depths of Dead by Daylight.

For more scary stuff, check out our Halloween video games list.

Game Premise

The premise of this game is very simple. A killer is on the loose and four people trapped in the “Killing Ground” need to escape. Dead by Daylight doesn’t have a deep story. The players will find themselves in a unique situation which they need to resolve.

This game is a slasher simulator based on all the horror cliches we’re all fond of. Imagine your favorite scary movies, such as Saw or Halloween, and remove the storyline. You’ll get nothing but gruesome, scary, and thrilling scenes. That’s exactly what this game is. A killer is out to get you; what more reason do you need to try to escape?

Although the story is lacking, that doesn’t mean the game doesn’t have lore. Every character, be it a survivor or a killer, has an interesting background you can explore. This background explains their unique abilities as well as how they end up on the “Killing Ground.” The purpose of the lore is to give players an insight and understanding of the Dead by Daylight universe. Some killers have a particularly tragic story that sets them on the wrong path, while others are simply born or created evil. Each Dead by Daylight DLC introduced more characters and added more backstories for players to explore. It’s worth noticing that both licensed and original characters are equally intriguing to explore.

You can further explore the Dead by Daylight lore through spin-off visual novel games, comic series, gameboard, and a future movie adaptation that was announced in 2023.

Asymmetrical Gameplay

Dead by Daylight is an asymmetrical multiplayer game for a total of five people. One person will play as a killer, while four remaining will be survivors. The five players will be matched in a trial, in which survivors need to work together to open the exit gate before the killer gets them. On the other hand, a killer’s task is to catch all four survivors and hook them on meat hooks as sacrifices to the creature known only as the Entity.

One match can last anywhere between five and twenty-five minutes, all depending on how the players go about it. The map will change for each trial giving the players a new setting, atmosphere, and a new sense of horror. Even if the maps repeat themselves, the diversity of players and killers, and their unique special powers, weapons, and abilities will always make the gameplay constantly different. That’s why each match is a unique experience.

Playing as a Killer

If you opt to play as a killer, you’ll get to choose from a plethora of famous movie villains or those heavily inspired by them. You can play as the Ghostface from the Scream franchise or as Michael Myers from Halloween. Originally, there were only five killers to choose from, but over the years, more villains were added. At the moment, the total number is 34, each having unique abilities and perks. That’s why you have to choose carefully a character that suits your playstyle and allows you to effectively eliminate the survivors.

Playing as a killer means you’ll have to hunt down other players. You can do this by setting traps, breaking the generators that open the exit door, baiting players, or simply killing them. As the killer, you’re never in danger as the survivors can’t injure you. They can only escape, which would make you lose the game. However, be careful not to step into your own traps. Playing as a killer is not for everyone because it includes doing some very gruesome things. But if you have the stomach for it, it can be insanely fun.

Playing as a Survivor

Playing as a survivor in Dead by Daylight is thrilling, to say the least. There are 37 survivor characters to choose from and they range from completely new characters to some of the famous fictional survivors such as Nancy Wheeler (Stranger Things) or Ellen Ripley (Alien). The game will have you repair five out of seven existing generators that power up the exit gate. You have to pair up with other survivors to successfully escape. But you also have to constantly hide from the killer in lockers or behind various doors and hatches. You need to run away from the killer all the time, as you cannot hurt them.

You can also help your teammates. If you see them hooked up but alive, try getting them to safety and healing them. However, be extremely careful, as the killer might be using them as bait to get to you. Having a team is crucial if you want to develop a complex escape strategy and beat the killer. You’re allowed to use both your and your teammate’s unique abilities to reach the end goal.

Characters and Choices

The diverse suite of characters, both killers and survivors, allows for unique builds and strategies. Each character comes with different strengths and weaknesses that you can exploit. Each character has an optimization path that you, as a player, can select by investing in complex perks and inventory items that can help you win the game. Some of these items will boost your abilities or reduce their cooldown. You’ll get to level up your favorite characters and unlock their talent trees. Progression is pretty straightforward, but there are some subtle choices to be made to get the maximum out of the character.

Each Dead by Daylight character can unlock three personal perks (such as healing speed or gaining access to extra items) either through gameplay or by purchase with an in-game currency. However, the shop is weekly rotational, and you get to keep the purchased perks for only seven days. The trials allow you to earn Bloodpoints, which you’ll spend to upgrade your character’s talents in the Bloodweb. These talents unlock and upgrade your perks.

Aside from character leveling, you can level your account. In turn, you’ll get the Iridescent Shards and Rift Fragments currencies to upgrade any character’s Bloodweb. All this is done so you can progress through the game and be more effective in beating the killer and escaping the trials.

The killers have unique special abilities known as Powers. Unlike perks, powers are locked to their respective characters and cannot be transferred to other killers. For example, the Knight has a unique power to summon guards that’ll patrol the map and demolish obstacles and generators.

You can always go for perks that other players already tried and are known to give good results. However, there’s always an option of experimenting with them to create unique characters that are simply fun to play, although perhaps less effective.

Final Thoughts

As we wrap up our journey through the foggy and fear-filled world of Dead by Daylight, it’s clear that this game offers an experience unlike any other. With its unique blend of survival horror, asymmetrical multiplayer gameplay, and a constant stream of new content, Dead by Daylight will keep you on your toes. So, if you’re ready to test your survival skills against some of the most iconic killers in horror history, dive into Dead by Daylight and prepare for a heart-pounding adventure you won’t soon forget.